If it’s economy you are looking for, look nowhere else but India. This adage has gained ground with Indian government’s recent launch of Akash – the ‘Made in India’ internet device which is being hailed as the world’s cheapest computing tablet. Priced at a shade over Rs.2000 without the subsidy, if this tablet does reach even half of the 800 million users in India and the target audience – educational institutions in villages, Akash would have been a major success.

Though it is unfair to compare these government initiatives with something like a Samsung Galaxy Tab which costs almost 20 times and has pitted itself against iPad2, Akash does have the support of about 1000 institutions with wireless networks and is expected to be used by them as a tool for efficient learning and easy interaction. Powered by Data wind, it boasts of Conexant processor with an Android 2.2. It also has an 800 x 480 touch screen.

But what remains to be seen is how market will react to the earlier ‘cheapest tab’ place holder – the Reliance 3G Tab. Chinese telecom company ZTE has been instrumental in getting this tab to Indian markets at a price of 12999 Rs. Little did any one expect Akash to eat into its potential market. With Google’s Gingerbread OS and 32 GB storage, it does have significant advantage over Akash. Which one of the two delivers and sustains itself in long run is for the customers to decide.